translation chinese seal

[rockcollect]

Is there someone who can read and translate old chinese script on this chinese seal. I understand that the upper left caracter says Han and the lower right says seal. Don't know the other two. I have asked on asian art forum but don't know if it is correct.

 

[rockcollect]

just received the seal by mail, Unbelievable piece. 10 x 10 x 8 cm. not bad for 5 euro's . i hope someone with asian rootz can translate the seal script for me.

 

[Terry Soloman]

It reads, “Seal of Liu Jiezhou” cool piece!

 

[DizzyDigger]

It reads, “Seal of Liu Jiezhou” cool piece!

Never knew you habla'd Chinese...

 

[rockcollect]

It reads, “Seal of Liu Jiezhou” cool piece!

Are you sure? I am not doubting you but it is so different as to what Mr. Nagy said: 漢戎齋壐　Seal of Hanrong Studio

Hanrong 漢戎
漢　=　Han　-　Han Dynasty
戎　=　rong - weaponry, arms, army
齋 = zhai - room, study
壐 = xi - seal

 

[Red-Coat]

Are you sure? I am not doubting you but it is so different as to what Mr. Nagy said: 漢戎齋壐　Seal of Hanrong Studio

Hanrong 漢戎
漢　=　Han　-　Han Dynasty
戎　=　rong - weaponry, arms, army
齋 = zhai - room, study
壐 = xi - seal

For what it’s worth, AI agrees with Mr. Nagy on three of the characters, but not the one he interprets as ‘róng’, relating to weaponry, arms or army. Noting that the characters are highly stylised, AI comments that:

“While the character you provided (戎, róng) looks similar to the one on the seal, the character actually present is 崇 (chóng). This specific seal is frequently found on modern reproductions or "museum-style" curios made from materials like Hetian jade or soapstone.”

The chóng character relates to something high or lofty (as for a mountain, for example), but also in the sense of something that is esteemed, honoured, respected or adored.

AI also notes that:

"During the Qin and Han Dynasties, 壐 (xi) was originally a general term for seals, but after Qin Shi Huang, it gradually became exclusively used by the emperor, while subjects used "印" (yin) or "章" (zhang)."

and

“Although primarily a title reserved for emperors after the Qin Dynasty, the character 壐 (xi) has been widely used on private seals with a royal style in antique-style or scholar's seals from the Qing Dynasty onwards” and “this style of seal is also frequently imitated or copied in modern seal carving, used as an artwork or personal seal.”

 

[rockcollect]

For what it’s worth, AI agrees with Mr. Nagy on three of the characters, but not the one he interprets as ‘róng’, relating to weaponry, arms or army. Noting that the characters are highly stylised, AI comments that:

“While the character you provided (戎, róng) looks similar to the one on the seal, the character actually present is 崇 (chóng). This specific seal is frequently found on modern reproductions or "museum-style" curios made from materials like Hetian jade or soapstone.”

The chóng character relates to something high or lofty (as for a mountain, for example), but also in the sense of something that is esteemed, honoured, respected or adored.

AI also notes that:

"During the Qin and Han Dynasties, 壐 (xi) was originally a general term for seals, but after Qin Shi Huang, it gradually became exclusively used by the emperor, while subjects used "印" (yin) or "章" (zhang)."

and

“Although primarily a title reserved for emperors after the Qin Dynasty, the character 壐 (xi) has been widely used on private seals with a royal style in antique-style or scholar's seals from the Qing Dynasty onwards” and “this style of seal is also frequently imitated or copied in modern seal carving, used as an artwork or personal seal.”

Wow again apreciate the help. could you please circle the caracter the means chong, then i will have everything i need

 

[Red-Coat]

Wow again apreciate the help. could you please circle the caracter the means chong, then i will have everything i need

You're welcome, although I cannot vouch for the accuracy of AI answers. The character AI identified as chóng rather than róng is at the bottom left.

 

[rockcollect]

You're welcome, although I cannot vouch for the accuracy of AI answers. The character AI identified as chóng rather than róng is at the bottom left.

well at least i know allot more now. super. even if it is a copy it is a very cool piece.

 

[rockcollect]

You're welcome, although I cannot vouch for the accuracy of AI answers. The character AI identified as chóng rather than róng is at the bottom left.

Hi Red Coat, in your opinion does the upper left caracter say Han as in a name or does it say Han Dynasty?

 

[Red-Coat]

Hi Red Coat, in your opinion does the upper left caracter say Han as in a name or does it say Han Dynasty?

It could be either, but I would say it's intended in the Dynastic sense as a pretentious name for the studio by an artist. To give it prestige... and obviously not an indication that the seal is from the 1800+ year-old Han Dynasty.

 

[Red-Coat]

P.S. together with the chóng character, you might read it as something akin to: "as revered as the Han Dynasty".

 

[rockcollect]

P.S. together with the chóng character, you might read it as something akin to: "as revered as the Han Dynasty".

ok thanks cool.

 

[rockcollect]

P.S. together with the chóng character, you might read it as something akin to: "as revered as the Han Dynasty".

Hi Red Coat, Finally i got the wright translation from the google AI assistent. It Says :


Top right symbol



(Róng) glory, flourishing, honor



Bottom right symbol



(Xi) Imperial seal, stamp



Top left symbol



(Han) Han dynasty



Bottom left symbol



(Xi/Shi) seal or gemstone

P.S. would you say the material is soapstone or jade? The brown parts have small criss cross elongated crystals

 

[Red-Coat]

A hardness check will easily distinguish between jade and soapstone. It could also be agate though, which can be almost as hard as jade. Portions of it have visual similarity to dendritic agate.

 

[Terry Soloman]

「劉傑舟印」 translates to:

"Seal of Liu Jiezhou" or "Seal of Liu Jiezhou."

Here's the breakdown:

• 劉 (Liú) — the surname Liu.
• 傑舟 (Jiézhōu) — the person's given name, typically romanized as Jiezhou (or Chieh-chou in the older Wade–Giles system).
• 印 (yìn) — seal, stamp, or seal impression.

This phrase is commonly found carved on Chinese name seals (also called chops) and simply indicates that the seal belongs to a person named Liu Jiezhou. It does not usually imply a title or occupation.

 

[ToddsPoint]

A hardness check will easily distinguish between jade and soapstone. It could also be agate though, which can be almost as hard as jade. Portions of it have visual similarity to dendritic agate.

It could also be dendritic soapstone like this sphinx I carved. This soapstone is from Montana. Soapstone if very soft and easily carved. It takes a nice polish too.

 

[rockcollect]

It could also be dendritic soapstone like this sphinx I carved. This soapstone is from Montana. Soapstone if very soft and easily carved. It takes a nice polish too.View attachment 2259766

i think soapstone judging by the nicks on it

 

[Red-Coat]

In an attempt to settle this once and for all, I sent a picture of the seal to the Department of Asia at the British Museum. They took a while to reply, but today I received this answer from the museum’s resource specialist for China:

The characters on the seal face are: Han Cheng Yu Xi (漢成禦壐), which could possibly be translated as 'Imperial seal of Cheng of the Han’.

The museum specialist couldn't give a view on who this person is/was, but 'Cheng' is a very common Chinese name. Nor did I get an opinion on whether 'Han' is used in the Dynastic sense, but the Han people are the majority group in China (more than 90% of the population, living mostly in the Eastern areas of the country).

 

[rockcollect]

In an attempt to settle this once and for all, I sent a picture of the seal to the Department of Asia at the British Museum. They took a while to reply, but today I received this answer from the museum’s resource specialist for China:

The characters on the seal face are: Han Cheng Yu Xi (漢成禦壐), which could possibly be translated as 'Imperial seal of Cheng of the Han’.

The museum specialist couldn't give a view on who this person is/was, but 'Cheng' is a very common Chinese name. Nor did I get an opinion on whether 'Han' is used in the Dynastic sense, but the Han people are the majority group in China (more than 90% of the population, living mostly in the Eastern areas of the country).

That's funny i also tried another time and it also came back something like that.
Thanks to Rat-xiansheng's timely assistance, now we are able to piece together a satisfactory interpretation of the seal text.
漢成禦璽　Han Cheng Imperial Seal　（Immperial Seal of Cheng of Han)
According to Chiinese sources there are currently no publicly available archeological or museum information on any Han Dynasty imperial seal bearing the inscription　漢成禦璽.
After all this, I can only reaffirm what I wrote in my response dated July 14.

With regards,
I.Nagy